Volunteer program shut down after 'online threats' at Genesee County Animal Control

A volunteer walks a dog at the Genesee County Animal Control Department shelter in this Flint Journal file photo.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The Genesee County Board of Commissioners has shut down all volunteer programs at the Animal Control Department until further notice, ending dog walking and other services that have been provided free of charge.

County Commisioner Pegge Adams, D-Richfield Twp, said the suspension started Tuesday, Aug. 5, and is the result of online threats, including a bomb threat.

It marks at least the second time in less than two years that volunteers have been shut out of the shelter because of what county officials have perceived as threats against employees or facilities.

"It might just be some crackpot sounding off, (but) I talked to (a county attorney) and it's something definitely we should be taking seriously," Adams said.

The commissioner said the threats appear to be in response to false information that has circulated in social media about damage to a room at the shelter that has been used by volunteers.

Although Adams said the room was "trashed" by a loose dog, online posts suggested employees caused the damage in retaliation for a recent demonstration for shelter reforms.

Adams said information about the bomb threat and a threat made in a Facebook posting to do "great bodily harm" to employees have been turned over to the county sheriff's department for investigation, and Animal Control Chief Officer Stepheni Lazar is deciding when to allow selected volunteers to work again.

A news release from the county says in addition to volunteer programs being suspended, visitors at the shelter will be asked for identification before they can visit the kennel area for the time being.

"This will not affect patrons who are buying dog licenses, bringing in animals or conducting other business at the desk," the county statement says. "We hope these changes will not be of long duration."

Richard Angelo, a founder of Genesee Residents for Animal Control Evolution, said the actions of county officials are misdirected.

"How many times do we have to hear about deaths threats?" asked Angelo, who said previous claims have been investigated and dismissed. "No one condones (threats, but) banning the volunteers is not the solution to this."

The suspension of volunteer programs comes less than two years after former Animal Control Chief Officer Walt Rodabaugh also shut down volunteer programs because of what he called "legal, union (and) risk management concerns, which needs to be addressed."